Liquid-dispensing apparatus.



H. H. CHOATB. LIQUID DISPENSING APPAR ATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAYZ'I, 1907.

Patented Nov. 4, 1913.

' same parts in er on PATENT FlCE@ T'lQUD-DSPENSNG PPARATUS.

LF'S' Specicatiou of Letters Patent.

Patented Novi d, )i915 3.

Application 'filed lay 27', 19x07. Serial No. 375,809.

12'?) all col/mu il' 'in/ag; conc-emv,

le it linown that. l, llenas?! il. Cirofsru, el Glouccs e in the county of Esi-:cx and State of M: acliusetts, have invented certain new une useful improvements in Lio,i'iid-lispeusing Apparatusg of which the follmvlng a specication.

yhis invention relates to devices in which liquids, particularly beverages. may be contained, and from which quantities of regu` lat d animent may be obtained by the depo- 1 ion ol a coin.

lhc object is to furnish a simple, eliioient and easily manipulated apparatus of the sert specified, which will be aseptic and free from metal. A

The apparatus comprises in its construciou the rec., "lacie which receives the liquid able tank, bottle or the like, `which Jdie liquid is i''ed through a l Lgwattaehed connection to a coin* controlled measuring and dispensing vessel.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying" drawings, in which- Figure l represents a vertical section, on lines l. l, l,l ot F10. 2, artlv in elevation, of this embodiment of the apparatus.I

Fig. 2 represents a sectional plan view of the parts below the line 22 oi Fig. l. Fig. 3 represents a 'fragmentary cross-section on line 3mi@ of 2, looking in the direction oli the arr-ovv.

'fet/rence characters indicate the all the figures.

l represents an outer casing having a separable cover Si through 4which extends the flange 3 of an inner receptacle or reservoir 1. The flange `3 rests against the edges of the opening in the cover and supports the receptacle l which is contained entirely Within the outer casing 1 and may besurrounded by lumps of ice .or other` suitable refrigerant for chilling the liquid. Supported on the upper portion of the l'lafnge 3 is a liquid vessel 5, preferably au inverted bottle or earboy, of which the neclr 6 extends into the receptacle il. The latter is divided into tivo compartments 7 and 8 respectively, of which the former is circular so as to support the bottlc 5 over a practically continuous zone, while the latter is box-like and is entirely separated from the first compartment by an intermediate dividing Wall. Upon the bottlc or carbey being inverted and set into ,the

with a central opening' l receptacle 4, the liquid is discharged into the compartment 7 until it rises to the level of the mouth of the bottle, whereupon thc level becomes stationary :1nd is maintauied at the saine point as long as any liquid remains ir. the bottle. i

rlfherc is no outlet from the compartment or reservoir 7, except through a single nip'- ple 9 over which is passed one end of ay piece kole flexible tubing l0. The other end of the tubing is attached to the bottoni of a measuring vessel 1l which is pivotally mounted Within the compartment 8, This measuring vessel is preferably made of glass and has trunnions 12 and 13 which are either molded integrally upon it `or formed upon a baud lsurrounding the vessel. are mounted so as to turn in blocks or bars l5 16 contained in grooves 1'? 18 in opposite walls of the compartment 8, and vertically adjustable therein. The adjustment ed intolugs 20 formed upon the blocks or bars 15,216 and bearing on the upper edges of the compartment walls adjacent the grooves. By means of the set screws the measuring vessel is adjusted until its rim is at or above the level of liquid in the reservoir 7. Then by reason of the llexible connection l0, the

the measuring vessel until it attains the same'level as that which it has in the reservoir. As the 4Cleliciency in 'the reservoir caused by flow' .ofthe liquid therefrom to the measurir" /essel is made up continually by discharge from the .main container 5, the level is maintained constant and the measuring vessel is immediately filled after each emptying.

As appears from Figs. l and 2, the measuring vessel is enlarged above the pivotal axis of its trunnions, and the greater part of the enlargement lies at one side of a vertical plane through this axis. At the same time, the vert-*ical height of the pivotal axis is such that when the vessel is empty, its center of gravity will be below the pivotal exis, and When full or nearly full of liquid, the center of gravity will be somewhat above and to one side of this axis." Thus, Whenever the Vessel is empty or only partially filled, the preponderance of Weight below the pivots will cause it to swing into an unright position, and when it becomes nearly full, the displacement of the center of gravity ivill tend to tip it toward. the right The lnunnions v is effected by set screws 19 which are thread-- liquid flows from the reservoir and rises in a way that the action of a coin will (Figs. 1 and 2) so as to spill part of its contents.

In order to control the time atwhich the tipping of the measuring' vessel takes place, I provide a coin-controlled trip 2l which ha s a latch 22 adapted to slip over the `rrim ot the measuring` vessel and is pivoted'insuch Ase it to lift the latch out. of engagement'with the measuringvessel and Aallow the'.A latter to tilt. One arm 23 of. .this trip'lies near a coin-slot or chute 24 s'o that it will be struck by a coin dropped into 'the chute, and Will be turned about its pivot in such a way as to release the latch. It is to be understood that the slot shown in Fig. 3 does not necessarily represent the form of Vcoin-chute which I may employ, but that I mayemploy any of the approvedselective devices in common use, by which the operation of the apparatus is restricted to coins alone.

The latch 22 is so pivoted to the trip that it can swing upward and it has an inclined :tace adapted to be engaged and displaced 'by the measuring vessel when the latter turns into upright position, but means of any suitable character is provided so as to prevent the latch from dropping below the relative position when the trip is actuated, t're latch is lifted bodily out of engagement with the measun ing vessel.

The trip is pivoted at 25 between ears QG which are carried'by the block or bar 15 so that it is adjusted up or down simultaneously with the measurins'lvessel, and thereby is maintained operative in all positions of the '.atter. By means of the adjustment referred to, the measuring vessel may be raised or lowered with respect to the constant liquid level. in the reservoir, and therebv the actual quantities measured out and dispensed may be suitably regulated.

After the measuring,r vessel tips, its contents are discharged into the compartment 8, from which it may be drawn into a drinking cup or glassbv manual actuation ot the tap 27 which passes through the casini); l and entersthechamber 8. The receptacle Il is preferably made of porcelain, glass or earthenware, the measuring' vessel ll prefcrably of glass, and the tubing 8 ot rubber or similar non-metallic, impervious material which may be made aseptic. It will thus be seen that all the parts with which the liquid remains in contact for any appreciable length of time are non-metallic, and may be made thoroughly sterile and aseptie so that there will be no pollution of the liquid. This is of particular advantage where soda water or carbonated beverages arc pensed. The only metal with which the liquids come uno contact is the tap 27, but the Contact is very brief, lasting only while'vthe shown in Fig. l. Thus liquid flows out through it. That is, the liquid does not remain in contact with the tap for any appreciable length of time.

I claim:-

l. An apparatus of the character described including a reservoirb adapted to contain liquid ata constant level, a measurlng' vessel mounted so that it may tip and at such a height that its brim is above` axis being above the center of gravity of the vessel when empty and aside from the center of gravity when full, and a constantly open connection permitting liquid to flow from said reservoir tc the vessel.`

8. An apparatus ot the character described including a. reservoir, a pivotally mounted tilting measuring vessel arranged mainly below, but with its brim above the level of liquid in said reservoir, the center otgravity of the vessel when empty being below the pivotal axis thereof, whereby the vessel is automaticallybrought into upright position and thevessel being laterally enlarged above the pivot so as to shift the center of gravity to one side thereof when full, and a constantly open connection `between the reservoir and vessel whereby liquid is enabled to flow fromv the former to the latter. Y

4. -An apparatus of the character de scribed including a reservoir adapted to support a container of which the'only outlet is beneath its top and within said reservoir, whereby liquid is enabled to flow into the reservoir and is maintained at the level ot said outlet, a measuringvessel supported approximately at the height of the liquid surface in the reservoir and having a. liquidadmittig connection with said reservoir whereby the said vessel, may be kept full to the level of the liquid in said reservoir, said vessel being, pivoted between its upper and lower extremities, and provisions for permitting,lr the measuring vessel to overturn and spill its contents.

An apparatus o-l the character described including a reservoir adapted to hold a constant quantity of liquid, a liquid supply arranged to discharge into said reservoir at such rate as to keep the level in the latter at a fixed hei, jht;-\\au measuring vessel,"

tion with said reservoir and vessel whereby level of the liquid in said reservoir, means for altering the height of the measuring' vessel to vary the actual quantity of liquid contained therein, and provisions by which the measuring vessel may be caused to discharge its contents, said flexible conduit enabling'the connection to be maintained in all positions et the-vessel.

6. An apparatus of the character described including a reservoir adapted to contain liquid, delivered from a separate holder, a measuring vessel beside said reservoir and having a liquid-conducting connection therewith so as to hold liquid at the same level as. the level of the liquid in the reservoir,

.said vessel being adjustable up and down to vary the quantity of liquid contained therein, and a trip normally holding said vessel upright and aetuable to permit tipping of said-vessel and discllarge of its contents, said trip being adjustable up and down with the vessel so as to be operative in all positions thereof.

7. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a receptacle having two compartments, one of said coml'iartments holding' a supply ot' liquid, a 'n'leasuring vessel in the second compartment, verticall) adjustable holders supported by the Walls of this compartment and to which the said measuring vessel is pivoted, a connection bctween said vessel and the first compartment whereby liquid can How to the vessel therefrom, and a trip pivoted to one of Saidv holders and normally engaged with the vessel to retain lthe same. upright, and actuable to enable the vessel to tip and discharge its contents.

In testimony whereof l have aiiixed my signature, in presence of two witnesses. i

HORACE Il. Cllth'illl. lVitnesses:

A. C. lA'rruAN, Pn'rlsn lV. lnzf/,n'rri CIT 

